New Mexico Sues the DOJ And Todd Blanche Over Epstein Records (8/7/26)

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, accusing them of obstructing the state’s renewed investigation into crimes allegedly committed at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch. Torrez said his office had repeatedly requested complete, unredacted federal records that could identify additional victims, witnesses and possible co-conspirators, but the DOJ provided only 31 pages, mostly consisting of news clippings and correspondence already possessed by the state. The lawsuit argued that the federal government’s refusal was especially damaging because New Mexico might be one of the few remaining jurisdictions capable of prosecuting Epstein associates under state law.

The dispute also revived questions about the federal government’s earlier handling of Zorro Ranch. New Mexico officials said their original 2019 investigation had been suspended at the request of federal prosecutors, who allegedly promised to share evidence but never delivered meaningful assistance or searched the property. After reopening the investigation in February 2026, state authorities sought records connected to thousands of references to New Mexico and the ranch in the broader Epstein files. The DOJ maintained that it had cooperated within the limits imposed by victim-privacy protections and court orders, while Torrez asked a federal judge to declare the withholding unlawful and compel Blanche’s department to provide the requested materials.


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Jeffrey Epstein investigation: New Mexico sues DOJ, Todd Blanche for blocking state probe